TCU and OSU games were clear signs of progress. No one can disagree. It is just difficult to admit that we are better but still getting beat by significant margins.
OU and likely WV will be bad matchups. OU will score so fast KU offense will be forced into a position to keep pace, which it can't. WV's defense is really solid and I expect that to be a game that just keeps getting more and more out of reach.
ISU and UT are games this team can win. UT could very possibly be without a head coach at that point. Injuries might play a role in the ISU game simply because both teams lack depth so a few key guys out for either team might really impact the game.
Add a true tackle in Baldwin next year and a WR like Charlot, offense should be at worse serviceable with Cozart.
Defense has chunks to replace. Mosby/Olobia/Rosser has played as a strong rotation. Ehambe must step up and Bean needs 25 or more pounds. Tago has to actually get to campus.
LB play has seen Loneker, Roberts, Arnick, Dineen, Ogbebor mostly. The LBs as a unit have actually improved quite a bit since Dineen went out injured. Not sure it was just him overpursuing, wrong assignment, etc but you can't deny LB unit performance has improved.
I feel Lee can definitely fill the role of Fish. As a unit though, it will regress b/c I don't think we have anyone next year that will be as strong of a tackler as Lee has been.
Stewart and Ogletree have quietly played their a$$es off. Yesterday Stewart played one of the best games of his life. He was shadowing Washington all day. Mayberry ought to be able to step in and I think end up being the #1 corner next year with Neal being in a fight with others to start. Really hurts transition next year that Ayinde is out and misses so much practice.
Not sure we see the big boom everyone is hoping for next year. Ohio has a ton of losses on defense and offense. CMU loses some pieces on both sides, primarily their QB. I think 2018 is when KU is around 6 wins.
OU and likely WV will be bad matchups. OU will score so fast KU offense will be forced into a position to keep pace, which it can't. WV's defense is really solid and I expect that to be a game that just keeps getting more and more out of reach.
ISU and UT are games this team can win. UT could very possibly be without a head coach at that point. Injuries might play a role in the ISU game simply because both teams lack depth so a few key guys out for either team might really impact the game.
Add a true tackle in Baldwin next year and a WR like Charlot, offense should be at worse serviceable with Cozart.
Defense has chunks to replace. Mosby/Olobia/Rosser has played as a strong rotation. Ehambe must step up and Bean needs 25 or more pounds. Tago has to actually get to campus.
LB play has seen Loneker, Roberts, Arnick, Dineen, Ogbebor mostly. The LBs as a unit have actually improved quite a bit since Dineen went out injured. Not sure it was just him overpursuing, wrong assignment, etc but you can't deny LB unit performance has improved.
I feel Lee can definitely fill the role of Fish. As a unit though, it will regress b/c I don't think we have anyone next year that will be as strong of a tackler as Lee has been.
Stewart and Ogletree have quietly played their a$$es off. Yesterday Stewart played one of the best games of his life. He was shadowing Washington all day. Mayberry ought to be able to step in and I think end up being the #1 corner next year with Neal being in a fight with others to start. Really hurts transition next year that Ayinde is out and misses so much practice.
Not sure we see the big boom everyone is hoping for next year. Ohio has a ton of losses on defense and offense. CMU loses some pieces on both sides, primarily their QB. I think 2018 is when KU is around 6 wins.
